Sometimes I have my period for months, and sometimes there is a lot of clotting. I've been to a doctor, and he said that it's because my eggs don't mature. What does that mean? Should I seek a second opinion, or should I stay with my own doctor?

K.

Having a period for months on end is never normal. While lack of ovulation (what your doctor means by saying your "eggs don't mature") may certainly be involved, a complete investigation must be done. What this investigation entails depends on many factors, including your age, weight, other symptoms and other medical conditions.

The basic workup includes tests for anemia (a distinct possibility if you have been bleeding on and on and on) and thyroid imbalance. A physical exam is done, and an ultrasound may be ordered to look for ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids. A biopsy (sampling) of the uterine lining may be done as well, especially if you are 35 or older; the sample is then studied in a lab for signs of abnormal cells or cancer of the uterine lining. Women who have never had children and never used birth control pills are at higher risk for this type of cancer, as are women who are obese.

Depending on the cause, treatment for this type of bleeding can range from hormone manipulation with medicines to a D&C to a hysterectomy, with many options in between. If your doctor has not done any sort of investigation, or if you simply feel he is not taking your complaints seriously, by all means seek a second opinion.